Front wheel bearings failed L5740

[dstig1]

Actually, on slightly older Kubotas not only was the front axle part of the 50hr service but it called for a complete fluid and filter change. None of this filter, top off and go stuff like they do today. I've bought 3 new Kubotas and all were change at or before the 50 hr mark. After the seeing what came out of them I would never run one longer than that without a full service.
This is just my opinion of course but to me the 50 hr service is the most important one of the tractors life.

Well, yes, that is the point of the filter...to filter out contaminants.... So a new one early on, would help in filtering out more of them... Every new transmission/gear product will show lots of silver particles in the oil early on die to residual machining, early break in, normal wear, etc. I'm going to stick to the factory recommendations without a clear reason not to. I understand your point, but I am thinking that Kubota is pretty comfortable with their reasons for the schedule as written. So I should be pretty comfortable with it too. If you want to go above an beyond, no problem. I just doubt that it is really that necessary in most cases.

 

[SPYDERLK]

I did a seach on fag bearing 6209c3 and came up with this. Does the load rating seem low for the work it is doing? Seems low to me with the bucket sticking out there 5 miles. I'm wondering if this came about when they started using the curved boom.

Yes. A loader tractor can see very hi loads on the fronts when lifting and pushing. This load on a bearing with significant distance between the balls causes the balls in the loaded zone to spread, skidding and moving slightly toward the unloaded zone. The bearing cage must resist this. It wears and the situation gets worse. It fails and its all over. A higher compliment of rolling elements is necessary.

,,,These bearings never see above ~200rpm. Why use a bearing rated to almost 50 times that? ... A bearing with a FULL ball compliment would probably handle the speed.
larry

 

[bulldog69]

Kubota is pretty comfortable with their reasons for the schedule as written.

This is kind of my reason for questioning Kubota and I would love to have a real answer not just another opinion like my own. When I said a little older tractors I'm not talking about 70's or 80's models. My 2000 model L3000 said to change all the fluid including the front axle at 50 hrs. I know the new manuals say different but what has changed, and I mean really changed. I've been on a farm my entire life and was a heavy equipment operator for 20 yrs. Every single piece of new equipment I've every been around was full of metal on the first change. My last loader was a 08 model Cat 980H and a full service was required on it @50 hrs. And when you service one of these you're talking money, over 100 gallons of oil and almost $1000 in filters.

Are they doing something different in their machining process, doing a more thorough cleaning? Every new machine I have seen has been full of metal @50 and I can't imagine it being different now. I'm not trying to question the manual, my question is what has allowed them to change the manual?

Again this is my opinion but I would rather know what has changed to eliminate the need for a full service @50 instead of just thinking it's okay because the book says so. Who knows, maybe this is Kubota's opinion instead of a fact. Maybe they got tired of hearing owners ***** about the cost of a 50hr service and cut it out to make them happy.

It's great that we can have our own opinions about things and be able to make our own choices. For me, looking at the big picture the cost of repairing or replacing a tractor is way higher than the cost of changing oil. For that reason alone I can't make myself cut corners.

 

[Leejohn]

I feel the 50hr is to long, I like the old school with a 20 hr. I went with manual on my 1st kubota and didn't change on the others, didn't even check the manuals on the others. I might be wishing I had went with my gut feelings with doing a 20hr on my 4240 before I'm done.

 

[devildog1]

Gee guys it seems like some are paranoid and doing service way before it's recommended. My neighbors a working dairy farmer and I asked him about wheel bearings in a few of his IH tractors, 1066,1486, 966. All have loaders and he does lots of big heavy round hay bails.A few of the IH's have 9,500 hours on them and he never had a failed wheel bearing, lots of flat tires but never a bad wheel bearing, now that makes you wonder huh? I know it's not a Kubota but come on, none of his tractors have ever been inside a barn of garage ever!
DevilDog

 

[crazyal]

Almost 5000 lbs for each bearing, 4 bearings with a pivot in the middle of the front axle so the load is evenly split between the two wheels would mean they can handle over 9 tons of force continuously. You're loader is only good for a little over 2 tons, if you have equal weight on the rear to balance it out (and assuming the rear axle hasn't got any weight on it) and now you are up to 5 tons, add in 3 more tons for the weight of the tractor. So now you are at 8 tons using some very liberal moth, most likely less only when you have a full load on the loader.

I did a seach on fag bearing 6209c3 and came up with this. Does the load rating seem low for the work it is doing? Seems low to me with the bucket sticking out there 5 miles. I'm wondering if this came about when they started useing the cruved boom.

Specifications for this item





Brand Name

FAG Bearings



Part Number

6209-C3



Material Type

Steel



Bore Diameter

45 mm



Outside Diameter

85 mm



Overall Width

19 mm





Max Rotational Speed

9000 RPM



Static Load Capacity

7460 pounds



Dynamic Load Capacity

4860 pounds



EAN

4012801071147



Number of Items

1



UNSPSC Code

31171504


I guess it would help if I posted what I found.

 

[bulldog69]

IH tractors, 1066,1486, 966.g

It's hard to compare any of these tractors to a Kubota of any size. You're bring some serious old school American iron to the table with any of the 3 mentioned. You don't play fair, everybody else is sitting around with a flip and you just came in with a 50 BMG.

 

[MHarryE]

It's hard to compare any of these tractors to a Kubota of any size. You're bring some serious old school American iron to the table with any of the 3 mentioned. You don't play fair, everybody else is sitting around with a flip and you just came in with a 50 BMG.

I have 2 neighbors with Farmalls of the generation cited that they use for loading large round bales. I've had to help both out loading bales when they had failed bearings. Both have said they want to replace their tractors with MFWD loader tractors as they consider the front end to be a weak point on theirs when it comes to moving large rounds, possibly because large rounds weren't common when those tractors were designed.

 

[devildog1]

It's hard to compare any of these tractors to a Kubota of any size. You're bring some serious old school American iron to the table with any of the 3 mentioned. You don't play fair, everybody else is sitting around with a flip and you just came in with a 50 BMG.

Sorry guys your right those tractors that I mentioned could not have a Kubota compared to them, I'm just amazed how the still do so many field tasks and seem to run all the time. Now if you'll excuse me I just remembered that I still have diesel fuel from last winters blend, need to drain it and put in today's fresh diesel in just to make sure there's no contaminates in it. :cool2::cool2::thumbsup:

DevilDog

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

koyo bearings are some of the best available. wonder if they have a bad batch?

Just thinking aloud:

As you lift a heavy bale, having some ballast on the rear 3 point, and then bouncing across a field at speed, plus side loading, your dynamic load could easily go 3X your static number. Remember, when heavy laden as described, and then turning the front wheels trying to get a bale lined up on a trailer next to the previous bale, even pushing sideways to scooch them tight together. Just trying to explain the side loads on the bearings that are mainly designed for loads inline with the tire's rotation.

Many, many, old front wheel bearing designs have opposed tapered roller bearings. Not so easily done in MFWD front ends.